The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-04-13
WAS IT FATE's DECREE, Eks
why james q. Dfnine Feared That he
Wand ha nafAuSs al. .#..H.

Why james q. Btatne Feared That no
Would be Defeated.
A New York special to Philadelphia
Timo Gays: Those who were nearest 10
James G. Blaine in the canvass Of 1884,
and who had his entire confidence, can
bear evidence that there never was u day
or hour from bis nomination at Chicago,
in June, 1884, until the end. OF The cam.
paign, on the first Tuesday In November,
that Mr.. Blaine did not believe that he
would be defeated. Many who were not
even close In his confidence can recall
how despondently throughout that can.
vass be would refer to the similarity af
his political career 10 that Of Henry Clay
leach beginning lie as q school teacher,
then a member Of Legislature, Congress.
man, Speaker Of the House, Senator, and
each defeated twice Tor the presidential
nomination, and both nominated on the
third trial Of strength. and. The man
ner in which Blaine would refer to the de-
leaf Of Henry Clay, the idol Of his party,
by James X. Polk, o man almost unknown
10 the people at large, had most depress-
Ing effect upon his friends. But there
was another matter that deeply affected
Mr. Blaine, and confirmed him In tho
iatalstic fear that the decree Of fate made
his defeat absolutely certain.
A critical examination Of tho results OF
presidential elections, auCh as perhaps
only Mr.. Blaine himself would think OF
making, showed him that upon every oc'
casion OF presidential election the Can.
didate whose name ended with the letter
IN" was elected, and ss this letter IN"
theory Of Mr.. Blaine may play con.
spicuous part in the campaign OF next
year, fatalists and sapeystitious politicians
would do well 10 study the lesson Mr..
Blaine has already learned. In l7SS,
George Washington, letter en-" man,
defeated John Adams by an electoral vote
OF 90 to 81, and in l7O2 Washington again
beat Adam by vote 1879 to II. III 1904,
as Thomas Jefferson and Aaron burr each
had rs electoral votes, there waa no
election by the people, and upon the
thirty sixth ballot in the House Of Repre-.
sentatives Thomss JeGcrson was elect:
ed. In 1908 Thomas JeIeraon and
George Clinton defeated Charles
Cotesworth Pinckney and Rufus
King by an electoral vote OF lG2 to l4-in
this case, the first in which candidates fos
President and Vice President were nom.
mated and voted for, the last letter Of both
the successful candidates names ended
with "n." In 1872 James Madison ior
President and George Clinton Tor Vice
President, had 10 votes to AZ each for @.
G. Pinckney for Presidentan and Rufus King
for Vice President. Madison Was re-elect-
ed four years later. In 1923 Andrew Jack.
son and John G. Calhoun, both names
ending with "p," defeated John Quincy
Adams and Richard Rush for President
and Vice President by an electoral vote
OF IFS to IS. In 1882 the candidates for
President we're Andrew jackson, Henry
Clay, John Floyd, and William Witt. Of
Maryland, and the candidates Tor Vice
President we're Martin Van Buren,, John
Sergeant, William Wilkins, Henry Lee
and Amos Ellmaker, and OF the 2SS elect
oral votes cast Jackson had 2l0 and Van
Buren, 50, both letter tn fellows again
winning.
In 1885 Martin Van Buren, defeated
William Henry Harrison by vote OF li3
to Is, and Richard II. Johnson was elected
Vice President over Francis Granger,
John Tyler and William Smith, of Ala.
hama; butin 1910 Gan. Harrron defeated
Van Buren, by vote Of o3i to 90. The
next letter IN" candidate was James b.
chacan, who defeated John G. Fremont
and Willard Fillmore. In 1860 the candi.
dates We're Abraham Lincoln and Hanni.
bal Hemiin-both letter "n' nominees-
Breckenridge snd Lane, Douglas and
johnson and Bell and Everett, and in 1856.
Lincoln and johnson againet Mcclellan
and Pen6!eton, aii names ending With the
letter "n," the Republicans winning by
vote OF 2l2 to 81.
Soon after the nomination Of Grover
Cleveland l mot James &. Blaine and
stro!led with him frequently on the banks
OF the kennehec. On one OF theee oCca
sloLs, after be bad been planning indus.
triousty for hou!s TO eecure his election,
he haid in tone Of dependence that was
painful: They call me the Henry Clay OF
the Republican party. believe am,
and like Clay, am destined to defeat.
Twice Henry Clay was defeated Tor the
nomination when he could have been
elected, and l, too, have been twice TO-
lected when an election Was certain. Clay
was nominated upon the third trial and
defeated by o nobody, and it sesms certain
that ] am to be beaten by man who five
years ago wss the sheriff OF asix!h-classed
CITY,"
Roscoe Conkling 10 represented cs say
ing-when this Blaine theory OF good luck
attending candidates whose natnea ended
with the letter ''n" was called to his atten-
ton: "As she a1cceaa OF Madison snd
Clinton, Jackson and Calhoun, Lincoln
and Hamlin aud Lincoln and johnson was
SO pronounced, why not make it double
m ticket in 1883" And that ia why the
ticket Of John sherman tor President, and
Robert 7. Lincoln, or Allison or Harrison
Tor Vice President ia gaining 80 rapidly in
favor in the State OF New YORK.
Reliable and Always the Same,
Hrnu1rpth'a pilIu m tho oIj,r. t, |